How does this sculpture portray Julius Caesar?
For my English assignment I am talking about conflicting perspectives on Caesar's ambition in Julius Caesar (Shakespeare) and in two supplementary texts. One of the supplementary texts I have chosen is this sculpture of Caesar by Nicolas Castou: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Julius_Caesar_Co...
Could someone please enlighten me on how this sculpture portrays Caesar's ambition.
Thank You
Comments
It shows him with a baton, and wearing the laurel wreath. Both of these symbolize victory over opponents. This statue depicts Caesar at his moment of total triumph. He stands alone at the top. He is the master of all he surveys.
This sculpture depicts him wearing a Laurel Crown, a high honor awarded to Roman Imperators to wear during their Triumph.
Below that we have his face. Though a highly inaccurate depiction of what Gaius Julius Caesar actually looked like (it was, after all, commissioned in 1696, about 1750 years after his death), it does depict a man with a strong square jaw and distinct facial lines indicating an extremely powerful strength of character.
Next, I will explain his cloak. Though this piece of cloth does vaguely resemble a toga (minus the tunic worn underneath), I cannot be certain of its exact meaning. I will, however, give two educated inferences:
1. If it is a toga, it could be identified as a "toga picta". The "toga picta" was a solid purple, gold embroidered toga worn, during the Late Republic (Julius Caesars time), specifically during a Roman Triumph. I can identify it as such due to the embroidery around the edges, which only the "toga picta" was bordered with (as all other togas were bordered with a simple colored bar of cloth).
2. It, however, may simply be a military or campaign cloak. In which case it has only military or martial significance. Personally, I believe #1 to be the correct interpretation.
Underneath his "toga picta" we have his military uniform. It appears to be a fairly accurate military uniform worn by higher ranking Roman military officers, complete with an ornate cuirass, pteruges on both shoulders and waist, legate sandals, etc. etc. All of these identify him as being soldierly.
In addition to the military uniform, he is also balancing a shield with his left hand. This probably suggests his willingness to fight, hand to hand, like his fellow legionnaires. In truth, he rarely fought in battle, but was famous for marching, on foot, with the rest of his men forgoing the horse provided for him. This is just one of many reasons why his soldiers loved him and followed him with pride and honor, and without worry or hesitation.
Finally, he has a baton in his right hand. The use of a baton in this sculpture is historically inaccurate. A stout, white baton was presented as a symbol of imperial mandate. It was usually granted to a legate so that he may legally represent the will of the Emperor. This is inaccurate because Rome did not have an Emperor during Julius Caesar's lifetime. However, it may represent his right to represent the will of the Roman people, as most citizens and freedmen supported his ideals and political reformations.
Overall, this sculpture depicts Gaius Julius Caesar as the hero of the people and standing army of Rome that he truly was. Somehow, he managed to finance a political reformation without killing a bunch of his enemies and steal their money (which his successor, Octavian, readily did). He even went so far as to grant complete pardon to his enemies after the Civil War, not touching their property, and also allowing them to resume their public offices. He wanted to reduce the number of slaves and control their rampant use in agriculture, so that the starving and jobless middle-class could find work and have a lively-hood. He was killed by greedy, rich, upper-class men who would suffer the most, financially, from his reforms. The only exception to this group was Marcus Junius Brutus, who truly thought he was fulfilling the will of the people. His co-conspirators (mainly Cassius, whom Brutus was friends with) flat-out lied to him and told him the people of Rome wanted Caesar to be removed. Caesar also had an adulterous relationship with Brutus's mother, Servilia, which was undoubtedly fuel used by Cassius to stoke Brutus's fire.
Okay, I'm done.